It's a Trap!

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1Tim 6:9).

Long, long ago, in a land far, far away, a rebel leader suddenly realizes the evil empire has suckered his troops into an ambush. In “Return of the Jedi,” Admiral Ackbar quickly understands Darth Vader has played him for a fool and shouts the legendary line, “It’s a trap!” How did he not see this coming?!?

In another long, long ago, in a land far, far away, another leader sees the danger ahead of time. In a letter to a young pastor named Timothy, Paul carefully points out the hidden threat ahead. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (v9). The lure of money is incredibly tempting. Getting rich sure seems worth the risk. But before you get bamboozled into taking the bait, listen to the apostle and Admiral Ackbar. “It’s a trap!”

This wasn’t just a good idea or a suggestion from a highly paid consultant. Paul and Timothy have personally witnessed the damage done by those consumed with a quick cash grab. It wasn’t that long ago that a team of spiritual snake oil salesmen weaseled their way into Ephesus Community Church. These hucksters distracted the followers of Jesus with a phony gospel filled with kooky myths, monotonous genealogies, religious flimflam, and downright demonic doctrine (1Tim 1:3-4; 4:2-3). As profitable prophets, they understood that there’s no business like God’s business (1Tim 6:5).

The apostle has already given the old heave-ho to a pair of these false teachers named Hymenaeus and Alexander and handed them over to Satan (1Tim 1:20). When the Lord had an assignment for Paul in Macedonia, he turns over the helm in Ephesus to his young protege Tim (1Tim 1:3). Continue the reforms, find new leaders with godly integrity (1Tim 3:1-13), keep the main thing of following Jesus the main thing (1Tim 3:15-16; 4:3-16), and institute Gospel style care of the elderly (1Tim 5:1-16).

Eventually it was greed that brought down the false teachers. They bought the lie that “godliness is a means of gain” (1Tim 6:5). They worshiped at the altar of More. They didn’t realize they had a terminal case of affluenza. They didn’t understand the secret of godly wealth is appreciating what you already have. Contentment in Christ is not only the vaccine but also the cure for the disease (1Tim 6:6-8).

For those who fail to get their affluenza shot, greed is their downfall. Paul describes them as “those who desire to be rich” (v9). The Greek word he uses translated “desire” is boulemenoi. It paints a picture of someone who doesn’t just have a vague desire to pad their portfolio. No, this is a person who intends on piling up cash and has put a plan in place. They don’t just think being rich is a great idea. They have a strategy. Spoiler alert! This isn’t going to end well. 

Our enemy loves to bait his trap with Benjamins. Don’t believe me? The apostle points out that those making plans to get rich quick will “fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (v9). Yeah, we’re not talking about doing something for kicks and giggles. This isn’t seeking thrills on a zip line, going sky diving, or hang gliding. Paul uses the word “fall” (Gr. empipto) which means to unexpectedly drop into a pit or suddenly experience disaster. When talking about what you should and shouldn’t do on your God ordained day off, Jesus said, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls (Gr. empipto) into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?” (Mt 12:10). If you’re wondering, that sheep didn’t intentionally swan dive into the trench. It never saw it coming. And when we fall under the temptation of money, we won’t either. 

If the fall isn’t bad enough, the landing area is worse. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Check out Paul’s not-so-subtle description of your destination. Temptation. Snare. Senseless and harmful desires. Ruin. Destruction. Doesn’t sound like a day at the Magic Kingdom, does it? While we could take an in-depth look at each of these terms, let’s take a closer examination at one. “Snare” is the Greek noun pagis. We’re not talking about a piece of Ringo’s drum kit. This describes any kind trap, net, noose, or pit.  It’s concealed danger. Something that catches fast and holds tight. A booby trap. A hidden mine. A roadside I.E.D. A bear trap slamming shut on your ankle. The empire’s tie-fighters have locked onto your spaceship. Can you hear Admiral Ackbar? “It’s a trap!”

But instead of blowing you out of the solar system, the result of this ambush is something else entirely. When we take the money bait, it will “plunge people into ruin and destruction” (v9). The enemy isn’t taking prisoners. It’s taking them down. All the way down. The word the ESV translates as “plunge” is buthizo, which paints a terrifying picture of being thrust down under the surface and dragged down to the bottom. When Jesus joined a commercial fishing crew, they miraculously hauled so many fish onto their boat that “they began to sink. (Gr buthizo)” (Lk 5:7). But the deadliest catch is in fact the lure of money. It will drag you to the sea floor of your own sin.

I’m not saying Paul would have sniffed out the empire’s ambush ahead of time. But he certainly sees the booby trap of greed before anyone else. Listen to the apostle. Listen to the admiral. “It’s a trap!”